Three different groups are featured on this highly enjoyable CD, all of which include trombonist
Wilbur DeParis and his brother, trumpeter
Sidney DeParis. The first eight performances, which include four alternate takes, are from 1944 and match the brothers with clarinetist
Edmond Hall in a swing/Dixieland sextet. The next four numbers are from later the same year and have
Sidney Bechet (soprano and clarinet) and
Gene Sedric (tenor and clarinet) featured in the octet. The final seven selections are the first studio recordings by
Wilbur DeParis' New New Orleans Jazz Band, which in 1953 had the great clarinetist
Omer Simeon and a rhythm section with drummer
Zutty Singleton. This band always had plenty of spirit and occasionally took songs at very fast tempos, infusing plenty of life into the vintage style. Although all of this material has been made available in the past elsewhere, this is an excellent way to acquire these memorable and fun recordings.